Peterborough man rescued from his burning house

Stephen Briggs

Two police officers had to be taken to hospital after they went into a burning Peterborough house to try and rescue a trapped man.

The fire started at 6.50am in Field Walk, Eastgate, Peterborough.

Police had arrived at the scene after receiving a call from someone saying they could hear screaming.

Police officers had seen there was smoke and called the fire service. The officers then entered the house and attempted to enter the bedroom door where the occupant, a man in his 40s, was but could not gain access and were suffering from the smoke.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house and managed to force the door enough to gain access.

They found a male casualty and carried him outside to safety.

Paramedics administered first aid for burns to his body and also for smoke inhalation, before he was taken to hospital.

Firefighters extinguished a small fire in the bedroom and ventilated the house.

It is thought the fire started accidentally and the cause was smoking materials. The resident is still in hospital. The two police officers were also taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but have since been released.